Mid-Season Mr. Basketball Update

We are midway through the high school basketball season in Illinois. Time to reevaluate where we stand with the Race for Mr. Basketball! We breakdown the favorite, top contenders, and dark horse candidates!

Clear Favorite

EJ Liddell (Belleville West)

Preseason Odds: 5/8 Current Odds: Whatever the Warriors are to Win NBA Title

Recap of First Half:

To be totally honest we could stop the list here if we are really talking about who can actually win the award. The only way Liddell doesn’t win Mr. Basketball is if he gets hurt. He led his team to an undefeated first half of the season while posting dominant performances at Marshall County along with leading his team to a huge win in the Ramey Shootout against CBC. Also picked up a road conference win against East St. Louis along with winning MVP at the Centralia Holiday Tournament.

Top Contenders

Dajuan Gordon (Curie)

Preseason Odds: 25/1 Current Odds: 12/1

Recap of First Half:

Gordon has been outstanding taking on the lead role for the top team in the Chicago area

We are midway through the high school basketball season in Illinois. Time to reevaluate where we stand with the Race for Mr. Basketball! We breakdown the favorite, top contenders, and dark horse candidates!
Clear Favorite
EJ Liddell (Belleville West)
Preseason Odds: 5/8
Current Odds: Whatever the Warriors are to Win NBA Title
Recap of First Half:
To be totally honest we could stop the list here if we are really talking about who can actually win the award. The only way Liddell doesn’t win Mr. Basketball is if he gets hurt. He led his team to an undefeated first half of the season while posting dominant performances at Marshall County along with leading his team to a huge win in the Ramey Shootout against CBC. Also picked up a road conference win against East St. Louis along with winning MVP at the Centralia Holiday Tournament.
Top Contenders
Dajuan Gordon (Curie)
Preseason Odds: 25/1
Current Odds: 12/1
Recap of First Half:
Gordon has been outstanding taking on the lead role for the top team in the Chicago area the first half of the season. He was dominant in his play at both their Thanksgiving tournament in Springfield as well as leading his squad to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title. The Kansas State signee has taken his game up another notch helping lead Curie to a 14-0 record.
Adam Miller (Morgan Park)
Preseason Odds: 12/1
Current Odds: 15/1
Recap of First Half:
Miller is the state’s top junior and he clearly has the green light for the Mustangs. He opened up the McDipper with a tournament record scoring output. Followed that up with a championship and setting the scoring record for the event. Miller has hype, game, and we could see him making a move up the board here with a strong close to the season.
Markese Jacobs (Uplift)
Preseason Odds: 5/1
Current Odds: 15/1
Recap of First Half:
Jacobs has done his thing in the first half of the season. The DePaul commit has posted big scoring numbers in an explosive manner which is exactly what we expected him to do. He put on a show at the Chicago Elite Classic despite his team coming up just short the followed that up by outdueling Marquise Kennedy for a win in a primetime matchup. Uplift is 8-4 at the halfway mark of the season. For him to get in contention his team needs pick up marquee wins or make a run in the city tournament.
Jeremiah Hernandez (St. Viator)
Preseason Odds: 25/1
Current Odds: 20/1
Recap of First Half:
What a first half for Hernandez! We saw him in person twice at the Ridgewood Shootout and the Team Rose Shootout. Both times he led his team to wins by scoring at will. Maybe the best mid-range game in the state and makes others around him better with his passing. The Kent State commit has St. Viator at 13-2 at the halfway point primed to make a run at 3A in March.
Fred Cleveland (Leo)
Preseason Odds: 25/1
Current Odds: 25/1
Recap of First Half:
Cleveland is a North Carolina A&T commit who is the darling of 2A basketball. The slick handling point guard is a tremendous leader and scorer at the high school level. Leo is one of the top teams in not only the Chicago Catholic League, but has a strong chance to bring home a state trophy in a couple months.
Rashaun Agee (Bogan)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 30/1
Recap of First Half:
Agee was the top unsigned post in the state coming into his senior season and Agee has more than backed that up. The physical post is a rebounding machine as he had huge games in CPS battles as well as leading his team to the Proviso West crown over the holidays where he took home MVP honors. Bogan is one of the best teams not only in Chicago, but the state at 13-1 and he is a big reason why.
Terrence Hargrove (East St. Louis)
Preseason Odds: 40/1
Current Odds: 30/1
Recap of First Half:
This St. Louis University commit is having a big time senior season. The athletic combo forward has his team at 10-4 with their losses coming to many of the best teams in the state. Hargrove’s improved perimeter shot along with his ability to take over a game have made ESL a state title contender this season.
Chris Payton (Bloomington)
Preseason Odds: 25/1
Current Odds: 30/1
Recap of First Half:
Payton is the most dominant force in central Illinois this season. He put on a clinic at the Team Rose Shootout when we saw him in December following up an equally impressive outing at the Chicago Elite Classic. This 11-4 squad has a chance to be special as the season goes on and Payton is the superstar that can take them where they want to go.
Ray J Dennis (Oswego East)
Preseason Odds: 25/1
Current Odds: 30/1
Recap of First Half:
We saw Dennis in person twice during the early part of the season and he didn’t disappoint either time. At the Team Rose Shootout he scored 26 points in the fourth quarter alone bringing his team back in a game it looked like they were going to get run. At the Hinsdale Central Tournament he led Oswego East to the semis with his lethal perimeter scoring.
DJ Steward (Whitney Young)
Preseason Odds: 20/1
Current Odds: 30/1
Recap of First Half:
Steward has fit in nicely with the Dolphins. The state’s #2 sophomore is starting to find his role as not only the best prospect on the team, but best player. Silky smooth perimeter scorer that can light it up from three just like he did to open the season at Chicago Elite Classic. Also played well for the Dolphins in their runner up finish at Proviso West. With Whitney Young playing more in Chicago the second half of the season it will present more chances for him to boost his candidacy.
Max Christie (Rolling Meadows)
Preseason Odds: 45/1
Current Odds: 35/1
Recap of First Half:
Christie is without question the best prospect in the state. The 6’5” sophomore is an elite scorer with a feel for the game. He scored 51 points in a game this year and both games we saw him go for monster numbers as well. Two problems with Christie for Mr. Basketball are he is only a sophomore and his team isn’t winning at a high enough clip.
Tujautae Williams (Orr)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 40/1
Recap of First Half:
Williams has definitely taken the next step in his evolution as a player. The Orr wing was a role player on the state champs last year, but now is the feature guy as a senior. The jumbo wing is a big time slasher who can get to the rim at will. Starting to pick up a ton of mid-major and high-major interest.
Keshawn Williams (Bloom)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 50/1
Recap of First Half:
Williams took home the AC Williamson award at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament after he helped Bloom get the runners up trophy. Bloom has to have a player on this list with them being such a force in the first half of the season. Williams has been their most consistent performer with his explosive scoring ability.
Marquise Kenendy (Brother Rice)
Preseason Odds: 20/1
Current Odds: 50/1
Recap of First Half:
At the halfway mark of the season Brother Rice is at 11-5. This is slightly below where we thought they would be, but all of the losses have come to quality teams. Kennedy is doing his part. We saw him duel it out with Marquise Jacobs at the Team Rose Shootout and the Loyola commit more than held his own scoring in the paint whenever he wanted. Kennedy can definitely move back up this list by racking up Catholic League wins over the next two months.
Dark Horse Candidates to Watch in Second Half
Lance Jones (Evanston)
Jones is a big time scoring two guard that has got buckets at will in both games we saw them play this season. Fell just short at the Centralia tournament, but it wasn’t his fault as he scored 27 points. His team is 15-3 at this stage. We feel they are about to go on a run in the second half of the year led by Jones.
Joseph Yesufu (Bolingbrook)
Yesufu and his Bolingbrook team have been impressive when playing in-state including capturing a Decatur Turkey Tournament crown early in the season. He has stepped up in the absence of Tyler Cochran who has been out with an injury. Most of their losses have come to out of state teams.
Ahron Ulis (Marian Catholic)
Ulis is running the show run at Marian Catholic. With Tidwell opting for prep school things seem to be running smoother and Ulis is a major reason why with his ability to score and dish. He grabbed MVP at the Hinsdale Central Tournament while leading his squad to the championship.
Mitch Mascari (Geneva)
Mascari is on one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the state. Jumbo scorer that can go off any night. One to watch the second half of the season!
Terrion Murdix (Springfield Southeast)
Can’t forget about this Chicago State commit who in the absence of Anthony Fairlee went to work at the Collinsville Holiday Tournament helping his team take the crown. At 12-1 they are a prime contender in 3A.
Note: Records are as of January 1

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